Braided fishing line is a popular choice when it comes to angling. With its high strength-to-diameter ratio, braided line offers great sensitivity and allows for more efficient casting compared to other types of lines. But when should you use braided fishing line? The answer depends on the situation and there are some secrets that the pros know when it comes to using this type of line. In this blog post, we’ll explore when to use braided fishing line so you can make sure you’re making the right decision every time.
What is braided fishing line?
Braided fishing line is a tightly woven cord consisting of several strands of material (such as Dacron, Spectra, or Kevlar) that are twisted together. It has a smaller diameter when compared to other types of fishing line, and its construction makes it more resistant to abrasion and snapping when compared to monofilament or fluorocarbon line.
Characteristics of Braided Line:
Braided line has three main characteristics when it comes to fishing:
- High strength: The higher strength allows anglers to use a lighter line when necessary, which is helpful when attempting to land the bigger fish.
- Low stretch: The low stretch ensures that when a fish bites, it will be detected easily.
- Low visibility: low visibility keeps it from spooking fish away when used in clear water.
When to Use Braided Fishing Line:
1. When fishing in areas with heavy cover – when you’re fishing in areas with weeds, rocks, or other types of dense cover that can cause damage to lighter lines, braided line is a great option. It’s more resistant to cuts and abrasions when compared to monofilament or fluorocarbon line, which makes it a better choice when you’re dealing with potential line damage.
2. When fishing in deep, clear water – when you need to get your bait or lure down deep into the water column, braided line is a great choice. Its small diameter and high strength-to-diameter ratio means it can handle the strain when you’re fishing for fish in deeper water.
3. When fighting large gamefish – when you’re fishing for big fish, such as musky or large lake trout, you’ll want to use braided line. The increased strength and sensitivity of braided line is a major plus when it comes to battling large fish.
4. When fishing in areas with strong currents – when you’re fishing in areas with strong current, you’ll want to use a line that can handle the strain. Braided line is ideal when it comes to fighting the current, as it’s much less likely to break when compared to monofilament or fluorocarbon line.
5. When working with heavier lures – when using heavier lures, such as crankbaits or spinnerbaits, a braided line is the way to go. The small diameter of the line allows for more efficient casting when compared to other types of line.
When Not to Use Braided Line:
1. when fishing in shallow water – when you’re fishing in shallow waters, it’s better to use monofilament or fluorocarbon line. The increased visibility of braided line makes it easier for fish to spot when compared to the other types of lines, which can spook them away.
2. when fishing for small fish – when you’re targeting smaller gamefish, such as panfish or trout, using a monofilament line is the better option. The lighter line will be more sensitive when it comes to detecting bites and won’t cause as much damage when these smaller fish are caught and released.
3. when using light lures or baits – when you’re using lighter lures or baits, it’s better to use a line with a smaller diameter. Monofilament or fluorocarbon line is best when it comes to using lighter lures and baits, as it will get the bait down to the desired depth without spooking away any fish in the process.
Advantages of Using Braided Fishing Line:
- Greater sensitivity: when using braided line, you’ll be able to detect when a fish is biting much more quickly when compared to other types of lines.
- Greater strength: when it comes to battling large fish or fighting against strong currents, the added strength that braided line provides will come in handy.
- More efficient casting: when using a braided line, you’ll be able to cast farther and faster when compared to other types of lines.
- Greater abrasion resistance: when fishing in areas with heavy cover, the increased abrasion resistance of braided line is a major plus when it comes to keeping your line in one piece.
- Low visibility: when fishing in clear water, the low visibility of braided line will help when it comes to avoiding spooking away fish.
Disadvantages of Using Braided Fishing Line:
- Knotting issues: when using braided line, it can be difficult to tie knots when compared to monofilament or fluorocarbon lines.
- Tangling issues: when dealing with braided line, it can be prone to tangling when stored improperly or when an incorrect spooling technique is used when spooling the reel.
- Cost: when compared to other types of lines, braided line tends to be more expensive when purchased in bulk.
- Cutting issues: when cutting braided line, it can be difficult when compared to monofilament and fluorocarbon lines. Specialized tools are usually needed when cutting braided line.
Using a Leader Line with Braided Line:
Using a leader line when fishing with braided line is a great way to ensure that your line will remain intact when casting and retrieving. A leader line is a length of lighter monofilament or fluorocarbon fishing line tied to the end of the main braided line. This added line helps when it comes to knot tying and also helps when it comes to abrasion resistance when casting or fighting against large fish.
How to Join Mono to Braid Fishing Line?
To join monofilament to braided fishing line, a double uni knot is usually used when connecting the two lines. This knot is easy to tie and is great when it comes to getting a secure connection between the two lines. With this knot, you should pull the lines tight when tying it and make sure to moisten the line when doing so. This will ensure that the knot is secure when joining the lines together.
When to Change Braided Fishing Line?
Braided fishing lines should be replaced when they start to show signs of wear and tear. This is usually when the line starts to fray or when it starts to lose its strength when casting or when fighting against large fish. If you notice any of these signs, then it’s time to switch out your braided line.
How to Cut Braided Fishing Line?
When cutting braided fishing line, it’s best to use a specialized tool when doing so. This will ensure that you get a clean cut when cutting the line and will also help when it comes to making sure that your knot remains intact when joining the two lines together.
What’s the Best Knot for Braided Fishing Line:
The double uni knot is the best when it comes to joining monofilament and braided lines together. This knot has been proven to be the most reliable when it comes to getting a secure connection when joining the two lines. It’s also easy to tie when compared to other knots when connecting the two lines.
When connecting two braided lines, the FG knot is usually used when connecting them. This knot has been proven to be the most reliable when it comes to connecting braided lines together and when compared to the double uni knot, it has been proven to be stronger when it comes to reconnecting the two lines together. This knot also takes less time when tying when compared to the double uni knot when connecting the two lines.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, when it comes to when to use braided fishing line, there are a number of advantages and disadvantages that need to be taken into consideration. Braided lines offer great strength and durability when compared with other types of lines, but they can also be challenging when it comes to knotting or cutting them. If you notice any signs of wear and tear on your braided line then it’s time to switch out your current line for a new one. With these tips in mind, anglers may have an easier time deciding when is the best time to use braided fishing line depending on their situation.
